Exhaust box



Nov. 26, 1929. A. R. THOMPSON EXHAUST BOX Filed May '7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet NOV. 2.6, 1929. A R, THOMPSON 1,736,891

EXHAUST BOX Filed May '7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fjg.

Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT ol-FICE ALBERT B. THOMSON, F SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO ANDERSON-BARN- GROVEB MFG. CO., 0F SAN JOSE, CALIFO EXHAU RNIA, -A CORPORATION 0F CALIFORNIA ST BOX Applikationy nica may?, 1927. serial No. 189,722.

My invention relates to treating-vessels in the canning art, commonly known as exhaust boxes, the function of which is to subject the contents of the unsealed containers to a preliminary heat, or, as it is sometimes called,

1 a first cook, in order to expel the air, prior to hermetically sealing said containers and subjecting them to the final cook.

- In modern practice the numerous and necessarily large machines required for canning, present a problem in econo-my of space,

which is particularly of moment in plants,

the operators of which find themselves under the necessity of adding to the equipment under new rules and regulations, and for which addition insuiicient provision in point of room has been made. In this connection, for the purpose of showing in one case, at least, a motive and object of my invention,

I may mention a comparatively recent requirement inthe fish canning art, namely, .that exhaust boxes be used. In many such plants this addition to the equipment leads to the advisability and even the necessity of installing an exhaust box of 'dimensions adapted for the room available. Constructive practice in the building of canning machinery has in many instances recognized that in the direction of height, rather than in length or breadth, there is abundance ofv room; and this height dimension has been availed of to secure the necessary capacity, thus reducing to a minimum the' other, or` as they are termed, the floor dimensions.

My invention particularly relates to and is concerned with a type of box in which the can-path is a vertical helix.

The general object of my invention is to rovide an exhaust-box adapted f or limited goor space, yet having great capacity.

Its more particular objects lie in its improved construction, arrangement and combination, resulting in economy in cost and use, and in simplicity, etlicacy and accuracy in operation.

To these ends my invention consists in a.

novel` can-path comprising vertically helically 'directed rails, and an endless traveling chain associated with said rails and forming 5 a moving can-platform, said chain being of such nature and so directed that its return idle iight from the upper end of its functlonal course to the beginning of its initial course below, is readily effected. It also conslsts in the novel mounting and driving of said can-platform chain, and the novel takeup mechanism by which its several courses are lndependently and individually kept under tension.

It also consists in the means for returnin the cans from the higher level at which they are discharged to which they are entered into thebox.

Ihe nature of the invention and its several objects will fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which is `illustrated the device in its being understood that changes may be made 1n structure and arrangementwithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings,-Fig. 1 is a top plan of my exhaust box, the cover being omitted.l

Fig. 2 is a side view, the side of the casing being omitted, in order to show the course of the vertical helical can path within the box.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of-the box showing the framing and the rails for the endless traveling can-platform chain, the

latter being omitted.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing in plan the ype of diamond chain used for the moving can-platform.

Fig. 5 is a detail cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing the diamond chain on the rails and indicating a can on said chain.

Fig. 6^/ is a diagrammatic view indicating the partial twisting of the diamond chain, in order to direct its idle return Hight downwardly.

Fig. 7 is a detail plan view showing the chain tensioning means.

Fig. 8 is a section on thel line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

preferred form, it

the same lower level at Fig. 9 is a detail view indicating the slight v 3. Within the casing is a rail-supporting frame comprising essentially a plurality of members designated by 4. These members are disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of the longitudinal vertical central plane of the bex, as seen in Fig. 3, the series on each side comprising members spaced along the box sides and opposing members spaced along the longitudinal plane fof the box farther in, said inner members on one side being spaced from those on the other side leaving the longitudinal vertical center of the box clear from end to end. Fig. l.

To the opposing faces of these vertical frame members 4 are secured the spaced rails I5. vThe initial course of the rails is at the bottomof the'box, at one side, and thence extends along 'said side on a gradual upward incline to the other end of the box. The return course of the rails extends from said other end of the box back along the other side of the box ona gradual upward incline, to the first end.l The second forward course again proceeds on an upward incline from the first to the other end; land so on, the rails rising in spiral or helical course throughout the height of the box and terminating at the top at the end opposite to the end where they begin. The necessary joining of the rails to preserve their continuity at the ends or bight-s of the several courses, is provided for by thearcuate sections 5 on the outer side and the flat surfaces of the sprockets 6 and 6a on the inner side, as appears in Fig. 7 at one end.

The rails 5 carry an endless movable canplatform. This platform is a chain of the type known as diamond, which is a standard article of manufacture and lends itself admirably for this purpose. y

It comprises, as seen in Fig. 4, diamond shaped plates 7 and articulatinglinks 7a. The plates rest and travel upon the rails 5, while the links travel betweenthe rails, Fig. 5. The chain passes its bights around the sprockets 6 and 6a, its articulations bending freely in this plane. y v

The return flight of the chain isfunctionally idle, but since its articulations are of a type indicated in Fig. 4 which will not permit it to be carried back and down directly from above to the point of beginning, it must first have a sufficiently long free run to enable it due to the aggregate of looseness or lost motion in its joints to be twisted into a plane at right angles so that it may descend, and then again have a clear run sufficiently long to be twisted again to its first plane. This is indicated in Fig. 6.

It should be here noted that while this common type of diamond chain, which engages the adjacent pintle and socket sides of its links, is intended for normal flexing in one plane only, it is nevertheless a fact that on account of the absence .of any necessity for a close fit, and also due to the'general inaccuracy in manufacture, there is present in the articulations a looseness or lost motion, which' when cumulated in a suiiicient length of run, enables the chain to twist, so that it will then fiox freely in a plane at right angles to its original plane. This will readily be understood by reference to Fig. 4, though it has not been deemed necessary to show by exaggeration such free play in the joints, nor other details of the articulation, such, for example, as means to prevent separation, since these form no part of my invention and moreover are well known in this type of chain.

Any suitable course may be adopted to provide for this twisting of the return idle iight. I prefer Vthe course shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 6, which gives ample length of free runs necessary for the twists and a/t the same time disposes of the return flight in a position of non-interference. This .preferred course of the return flight is, as indicated by 7b, from the uppermost of the head sprockets 6 to a sprocket 8 mounted to rotate in a vertical plane in the upper portion of the box, about midway of its length. This vertical sprocket 8 lies in the median longitudinal axis of the box, Fig. 1, in the clear space between the rails and the functional courses of the chain.' and its distance from the head sprocket 6 is such that the chain, leaving said head sprocket with its articulating axes vertical can be twisted through 90 degrees so that when it arrives at the vertical sprocket 8, its articulations are horizontal thus permitting said chain to flex upon said sprocket and proceed in a downward direction, as indicated at 7c in Figs. 6 and 2, to its lower level. At this level is a second vertically disposed sprocket 9. About this sprocket the chain turns and is carried back, as indicated at 7d, to its point of beginning to the lowermost of the idle foot sprockets 6a. The free-run length of the chain 7d between sprockets 9 and Ga is suiiicieut to enable said run to be twisted again through 90 degrees to enable it to pass around the foot sprocket 6a. This return flight of the chain is wholly out of the way and interferes with nothing. Thus I am enabled to use a chain as a moving platform,capable of conforming to the endless course required and of furnishing a stable supportfor the cans set the-reen, which insures their advance without liability of lost motion due to slipping and possible jamming; and this is in decided contrast to the use and effect of the ordinary cable, traveling in a slotted or recessed track, as well as to a chain provided with uprising pushing spurs or dogs.

In establishing a helical or spiral course for the traveling chain, as herein disclosed,`

it is important that its runs be kept taut. The best effect in this regard is to tension each run separately and independently. To this end there are rotatably mounted upon the vertical shaft 10 which carries the foot sprockets 6, eccentric bearings 10, Figs. 7 and 8, upon which the foot sprockets freely rotate. To each of these eccentrics is connected a thrust rod 11 provided with a spring 12 which normally pushes and keeps the eccentric under rotative tension, thereby forcing back the sprocket and keeping the chain taut.

Power is led into the machine through the vertical shaft 13 upon which the head sprockets 6 are fixed. The transmitting mechanism may be of any suitable character, as, for example, the pulley 14 and gear train 15. Figs. 1 and 2.

The cans 16 resting on the plates 7 of the diamond chain, as seen in Fig. 5, enter the box at the bottom level at one corner, as indicated by the arrow at 17, in Figs. 1 and 2, and they are discharged at the top level at 18, Fig. 1, at the opposite end of the box.

In order to return the cans from the upper level at which they are discharged to a lower level in which they are continued in their course to other machines of the general line, there is a spiral chute 19, the head of which communicates with the discharge 18 and the foot terminates at the desired lower level.

In this chute the cans descend by gravity at a safe speed, and the chute itself by reason of its form does not take up much room.

I have not herein deemed it necessary to complicate the disclosure wlith a showing of means for heating the box. These may be of any suitable nature, well known in the art, and may for the present purpose be considered as impliedly present in the description of the device as an exhaust box.

I claim 1. Inv an exhaust box, an endless traveling can propelling member ascending in a series of superposed convolutions; and means applied separately and independently to each convolution of said member for adjusting the tension thereof.

2. In an exhaust box, an endless traveling can propelling member ascending in a series of Superposed convolutions; substantially zo-axial means for guiding each convolution of said member; and means acting independently on the guiding means of each convolution for adjusting the tension thereof.

3. An exhaust box comprising a casing; an endless traveling can-carrying member ascending in helical course therein; and

means ap lied to a bight of each course of said mem er for separately and independently keeping said courses taut, comprising a member about which said bight is directed; an eccentric upon which said directing member is mounted; and a spring actuated connection for holding said eccentric under constant pressure.

4. In an exhaust box, a can track ascending in a series of convolutions upon a substantially uniform gradient; an endless can propelling chain having one run traveling in said track, said chain comprising loosely articulated links adapting it for normal flexing in the plane of said track to follow the curves thereof; and means for guiding the return run of said chain free of said track, said guiding means being adapted to twist the chain out of the plane of said track and return it thereto.

5. In an exhaust box, a can track ascending in a series of convolutions upon a substantially uniform gradient; an endless can propelling chain having one run traveling in said track, said chain comprising loosely articulated links adapting it for normal flexing in the plane of said track to follow the curves thereof; guiding means for said chain at the upper and lower ends of said track; and means for guiding the return run of said chain free of said track from the upper to the lower end thereof, said return guiding means being positioned in planes angularly related to the planes of the first mentioned 4 guiding means and sufficiently distant therefrom to permit the chain to twist from one plane to the other.

6. In an exhaust box, a can track ascending in a series of convolutions upon a substantially uniform gradient; an endless can propelling chain having one run traveling in Said track, said chain comprising looselv articulated links adapting it for normal flexing in the plane of said track to follow the curves thereof; sprockets for said chain positioned in the plane of said track at the upper and lower ends thereof; and other sprockets for guiding the return run of said chain free of said track from the upper to the lower end ALBERT R. THOMPSON. 

